Whenever I get stuck as an artist and feel like the muse has temporarily left me, I pull out my pencils, pens, watercolours, tubes of gouache and sketch books. Sometimes, just switching gears for a while between working on large paintings can re-energize, invigorate and stimulate my mind. When sketching, I like to focus on subject matter that I find challenging (for me, that’s always portraits of people!!) because there’s one steadfast rule that I cling to: if we want to get better at our art, we need to practice, practice, PRACTICE!!
Doing quick sketches forces me to really focus on a subject and make decisions on what to draw and what to leave out; to see contrasts in light and shadow and to practice proportion. Loosening-up and drawing freehand is really important to keep my work fresh and interesting. The quickness of a sketch and the fact that I am not that “invested” in it with my time or materials used means that I can experiment and stretch my artistic muscles.
Sketching - like other art forms such as singing, playing an instrument, dancing - is very calming for me. I quickly get absorbed by the task and all my worries and fears fade into the background. Being hyper-focused on a task like sketching is a very meditative practice!
Subject-matter for sketches can be found all around us in the things that surround us at home, at work, in the marketplace and the public square. And the great thing about sketching is that the materials are very small, light and easily transportable....I can easily pack a small sketchbook, a few pens and a small watercolour field kit along with me, especially on holidays that take me away from my studio.
If I cannot find inspiration in what is right in front of or around me, there are so many images available online. Because I am only using the images for my personal sketching and do not sell or otherwise profit from them, I don’t have to worry about copyright infringement or purchasing the rights to use a photo. This way, I can find a wide variety of interesting subjects and compositions that I do not have among my personal photos.
So, that’s enough talk about sketching....time to break out the supplies and get to it. Happy arting, everyone!!
In 2014, I started a Facebook ancestry page focused on my father's lineage and it is a growing repository of pictures, stories and memories of the Hänni - Häni - Hani - Haenni - Henny - Hennie family beginning with immigration from Switzerland and settlement in Canada in the early 1900's. (Many Anglicized versions of the name have occurred during migration from Switzerland to English-speaking regions.) Over the years, I have met many first, second and third (etc.!) cousins through their posts to the page.
In mid-June 2020, serendipity and curiosity brought award-winning U.K.-based artist, illustrator, designer, therapist and educator Melanie Hani to our family Facebook page. After introducing myself as the admin, our growing conversation via long-distance texts has led us to discover that along with an ancestral connection through the famous Hani-Gleich Family Circus (still yet to be fully explored) we have many things in common, most especially an artistic flair and love of design.
(Photo: Circus Henny poster, c.1919)
Melanie brought forward the idea of using some of my paintings as designs for Art Masks. I was thrilled when I saw the excellent quality and workmanship of the non-surgical, washable and reusable cloth masks that she offers on her website and I quickly sent her images of some of my more graphic and abstract paintings that we both agreed would be more suited to the cropping needed to fit her mask dimensions. Here are a few examples...
You can see all 22 unique Art for Your Face mask designs and find detailed information about the mask materials and specifications at my online store. Order yours today and step-out in style and with flair in your Vanessa Ali | original.art Mask.
(** Note: This event has been cancelled due to COVID-19 epidemic containment measures. Artists and performers of all stripes are being hugely impacted. Stay well, everyone! **)
It’s already March, so I am painting like crazy to have a good stockpile to choose from for the upcoming “Chimera” spring art show and sale, put on by the St. Albert Painters’ Guild, of which I am so thrilled to be a member.
From the opening reception on Friday, April 24 to the wrapping of all the sold pieces on Sunday, April 26, you have plenty of opportunity to come view the works of many talented local artists at this free, family-friendly event. The exhibition will be held inside the rotunda of beautiful St. Albert Place - 5 St. Anne Street, St. Alberta, with plenty of free parking directly east across the street.
September is here already and I’ll be participating in my second art walk of 2019 - this time in beautiful Strathearn Park, perched on the edge of the river valley, overlooking downtown Edmonton. The park is located on Strathearn Drive (97th Avenue-ish) between 85th and 90th Streets.
In addition to my original paintings, I will be selling reproductions of my work, including prints, bookmarks and art cards, as well as the unique ceramic tile pieces that include heat-resistant coasters and trivets (art for your table!), wall hangings (no need to frame!) and fridge magnets.
I hope you will come to the art walk and pass by my tent for a visit on Saturday, September 7 from Noon to 7:00 p.m. Tell a friend! https://www.facebook.com/events/398141147436295/
“إبريق “ | “Abriq” - 2019
(Lebanese Water Jug) 24" X 24” Water mixable oil on canvas
Negative Space Painting
In this piece, I was able to employ negative space painting in all of the foliage of the grape vines and the tree in the background. It is so much fun first pushing the darks and then the lights...and then working back and forth between the two to get the effect that is desired. Negative space is that which occurs between objects. In this painting, to create the appearance of a cluster of leaves in the tree, I needed to paint patches of sky between clusters, while maintaining or cutting around the shapes of leaves or leaf clusters. Painting negative space really helps artists to see things and to get better at representing objects and how they relate to each other. It really makes my brain work overtime and it is really fun!
I am so excited to bring a new slide show to my web site that features my first works in....COLOURED PENCILS! Of course, I had used pencil crayons as a child for fun and in school projects.Later in life, every architectural office I worked in had an amazing - and expensive - set of Prismacolor or Faber Castell coloured pencils that were used to bring colour to architectural design renderings. I never thought that I would be using coloured pencils while wearing my “artist” hat to create painterly works of archival quality and I am proud to add these to my portfolio.
Kudos go to the AMAZING artist Lisa Clough of Lachri Fine Art for inspiring me with her absolutely stunning works of art in many mediums, but especially for introducing me to the magic of using coloured pencils to create fine art. I hope you will visit her website....I’m sure you will drool over her work as much as I do!
I am so excited to be participating for my first time in the 6th Annual Strathearn Art Walk!! I will be selling original works in acrylics, oils and watercolours, as well as prints, art cards, bookmarks and fridge magnets - something for every price-point! I hope you will come visit me and the other 225+ local artists.
Date: Saturday September 9, 2017
Time: Noon to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Strathearn Park, along Strathearn Drive, between 89 and 91 streets in Edmonton, Alberta
For more information, visit http://www.strathearnartwalk.com
I am so excited to be participating for the first time in “A Winter’s Sale”, an eclectic arts crafts and trade market in Sherwood Park, Alberta on Saturday, December 3rd, 2016.
This annual event, now in its third year, is held in the beautiful A.J. Ottewell Community Centre, a rustic old red barn that has been fully renovated inside with curved wood paneling. The venue’s loft area is also the permanent home to the Sherwood Park Art Society’s gallery.
If you’re looking for original works of arts and crafts for that special Christmas gift and you believe in supporting local businesses, this sale is a great opportunity! I hope to see you there.
If you’re looking to add some colour to your walls, I hope you will come check out my stall at the 20th Annual Whyte Avenue Art Walk in Edmonton, July 8-10
This my first “time at the rodeo”, so I am very excited to be participating, networking with other artists and hopefully meeting some of you who have been following me on Facebook and graciously “liking” and leaving kind comments about my work.
You can preview my paintings at my online gallery, but I believe art always has more impact in person, so the Art Walk is a great opportunity to see my acrylics, watercolours and oils as well as the work of over 400 other local artists.
Almost everything currently displayed on my website will be with me at at my stall, so this is your chance to talk to me about my work and see if anything I have is perfect for that bare wall in your home or office. . I will be in 'Block C' area just north of Whyte on 105 street, close to the Chapters.
“If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.”
― Émile Zola
Completed today: “The Glance”, 8″ X 10″ on 140 lb Arches cold-pressed paper. To see a larger version, please visit the watercolours slide show on my website.
Like the cobbler’s children who have no shoes, it’s taken me a long time to get my own website up and running...because I spend a lot of time making websites for other people!
For the past few years, I have managed to carve-out time from my regular work day as a graphic designer and web site designer to get back to one of my original passions: creating original works of art. My life is now pleasantly balanced between helping my clients for part of the day and painting with acrylics, oils and watercolours in my home studio for a few hours most afternoons - when there isn’t a deadline looming!
I invite you to look through the slide shows on my website and then please get in touch. I’d love to hear your feedback on any piece that speaks to you.
Yours in Imagination and Creativity,
Vanessa Ali original.art
Vanessa Ali | original.art @vanessaaliart - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
